Getting the kids to eat their lunch at school

One of the things I’ve noticed as we entered week two of school is my daughter’s lunchbox and the amount of food she’s bringing home.  My husband packs her lunch in the morning so I’m not sure how much he’s giving her, but I know there’s quite a bit coming back. She usually eats it when she gets home after school so it isn’t wasted, but it makes me wonder what’s going on at lunchtime.
One of the problems is that lunch is attached to recess, so I know she’s racing through her food as fast as she can so she can get outside.  That aside though, there could be other reasons why your kids aren’t eating all of their food, and there are some things you can do to improve lunchtime habits.
A new study published on the eating habits of young kids says changing something as simple as the presentation of food could make a big impact. One suggestion is giving the kids trays with compartments and pictures. These trays are super handy and we use them all of the time. They keep food separated but there’s only one thing to open.
Another suggestion is be a good example. If you want your children to eat the good stuff, then they need to see you eating fruits and veggies.
Finally think about portion size.  We tend to dish out more than what kids need to eat, so give them more options in smaller portions to keep lunch fun and interesting.